Missouri and its Birds 437 species Palm Warbler Photo by Peter Kondrashov Eurasian Tree Sparrow Photo by Al Smith Buff-breasted Sandpiper Photo by Peter Kondrashov Yellow-headed Blackbird Photo by Peter Kondrashov Painted Bunting Photo by Jason Harrison Bobolink Photo by Al Smith Purple Finch Photo by Peter Kondrashov Great Crested Flycatcher Photo by Peter Kondrashov American Kestrel Photo by Andy Reago/Chrissy McClarren Indigo Bunting Photo by Peter Kondrashov LeConte's Sparrow Photo by Peter Kondrashov Red-breasted Nuthatch Photo by Al Smith Blackburnian Warbler Photo by Al Smith Yellow-billed Cuckoo Photo by Al Smith Rusty Blackbird Photo by Peter Kondrashov Dickcissel Photo by Al Smith Ruby-throated Hummingbird Photo by Jason Harrison American Tree Sparrow Photo by Peter Kondrashov Kentucky Warbler Photo by Al Smith Hooded Warbler Photo by Al Smith Nelson's Sparrow Photo by Al Smith Mourning Warbler Photo by Al Smith Golden-winged Warbler Photo by Al Smith Golden-crowned Kinglet Photo by Al Smith Louisiana Waterthrush Photo by Peter Kondrashov Ring-billed Gull Photo by Al Smith Cedar Waxwing Photo by Al Smith Bald Eagle Photo by Peter Kondrashov American Avocet Photo by Peter Kondrashov Carolina Wren Photo by Al Smith Lincoln's Sparrow Photo by Peter Kondrashov White-crowned Sparrow Photo by Jason Harrison Black-and-white Warbler Photo by Andy Reago/Chrissy McClarren Prairie Warbler Photo by Peter Kondrashov Snowy Egret Photo by Al Smith Green Heron Photo by Al Smith Cape May Warbler Photo by Andy Reago/Chrissy McClarren Bay-breasted Warbler Photo by Andy Reago/Chrissy McClarren Baltimore Oriole Photo by Peter Kondrashov Cape May Warbler Photo by Al Smith Rose-breasted Grosbeak Photo by Al Smith Northern Cardinal Photo by Peter Kondrashov Bonaparte's Gull Photo by Al Smith Field Sparrow Photo by Peter Kondrashov Ruby-throated Hummingbird Photo by Peter Kondrashov Blue-winged Warbler Photo by Peter Kondrashov Peregrine Falcon Photo by Peter Kondrashov Black-throated Green Warbler Photo by Andy Reago/Chrissy McClarren Barn Swallow Photo by Al Smith Ruby-crowned Kinglet Photo by Al Smith Scarlet Tanager Photo by Al Smith Black-bellied Plover Photo by Al Smith Green-winged Teal Photo by Al Smith Blue Grosbeak Photo by Peter Kondrashov American Bittern Photo by Peter Kondrashov Common Yellowthroat Photo by Jason Harrison Swamp Sparrow Photo by Peter Kondrashov Wood Thrush Photo by Al Smith American Redstart Photo by Peter Kondrashov Red-headed Woodpecker Photo by Al Smith Canada Warbler Photo by Al Smith Hudsonian Godwit Photo by Peter Kondrashov Yellow-throated Warbler Photo by Andy Reago/Chrissy McClarren Eastern Bluebird Photo by Jason Harrison Yellow Warbler Photo by Al Smith Red-shouldered Hawk Photo by Peter Kondrashov Horned Grebe Photo by Peter Kondrashov Snowy Owl Photo by Jason Harrison Chestnut-sided Warbler Photo by Peter Kondrashov Snowy Owl Photo by Peter Kondrashov Summer Tanager Photo by Jason Harrison Northern Shoveler Photo by Peter Kondrashov Red Crossbill Photo by Al Smith Harris's Sparrow Photo by Al Smith Missouri lies in the middle of the great North American heartland, with a fauna that reflects influences from all directions. Being east of center, our state will always fall within the “eastern” volume of any two-volume field guide; yet one can feel a pull from the West at the sight of a Swainson’s Hawk or a Greater Roadrunner…or a Collared Lizard on a cedar glade. Missouri is also equidistant from the Canadian border and the Gulf coast, so that we have such nesting birds as Swainson’s Warbler and Painted Bunting in the southernmost counties, and Mississippi Kite more widely, while winter visitors like Northern Shrike, Rough-legged Hawk, and Glaucous Gull are regular in the more northerly parts. Missouri’s topography is defined mainly by rolling farmland with remnant prairie to the north and west, and the forested Ozarks and the flat alluvial plain in the south and southeast. These habitats make the state a haven both for woodland species like Cerulean Warbler and for open-country birds like Dickcissel. The Mississippi River, forming the eastern border, and the Missouri River, which bisects the state, offer migration corridors and stopover locations for waterfowl, shorebirds, larids, raptors, and landbirds, as do several large National Wildlife Refuges and an abundance of state Conservation Areas. With this strategic location and diverse terrain, Missouri has a healthy bird list of 435 species; this includes five that are extinct, three others that formerly lived here but have been extirpated, and 11 that are provisional. As in every state, many of our listed birds are accidental or casual visitors; these amount to another 80 or more, leaving us with about 330 regular birds that are seen annually somewhere in the state. The Annotated Checklist is a great resource to help you pin down where and when you might find each of Missouri’s birds, and how likely they might be. Have fun birding!